Ground-rod connection



June 24, 1930.

v F. H. BANNER GROUNDKROD CONNECTION filed Oct. so. 1926 BY wmmev Patented June 24, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FRANK H; BANNER, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK GROUIl'D-lB/OD CQNNECTION Application filed October so, 1926 Serial No. 145,289.

This invention relates in general to a wire connection and a method of effecting the fisame, and has" more particular reference to a'means and method for-(connecting electric wires to ground rods. f'

' connecting a wire to'a ground rod for effectually-grounding the wire, it is importantthat a good electric contact, and a strong mechanical connection, be made he- "1 tween the wire and the ground rod.

In one usual form of connection, the wire is wound around one end of a smooth rod, as closely as the resiliency of the wire permits, and is then soldered tothe rod surface 1 by hand, while held in as close contact as possible with the rod. The soldering operation'is not only a slow one, and hence relatively expensive, but it has been found in practice that upon driving the rod into the ground, the coils of wire often become loosened on the rod, and at times are jarred entirely free from their solder connection. Thus, both the mechanical and electrical connections are liable to easily become defective or entirely broken.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed, according to this invention, to provide a method and means for making a connection between a ground rod and a ground wire, which will satisfactorily overcome the above set forth defects.

Among the objects ofthe invention, are, to increase the efiiciency, decrease thecost of production, and lengthen the useful life, of

' devices of the character in question.

"-40 ing, solely byway .of example, and in a Further objects, purposes, and characteristic features of the invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, showwholly diagrammatic'manner, one embodiment of the invention, In the drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 1, with parts shown in section; and

Fig. 4; is aplanv view of a detail.

' Referring to the drawing, at lis shown a ground rod having an end 2 forbeing driven into the ground, andan end 3* for connection to a ground wire 4. Any suitable anchoringmeans can be used in connection with the rod, for holding it in place in the ground, without changingthis invention.

The end 3 of the rod is cross drilled as at 5, and a helical groove or screw thread 6 is formed in its surface, runningfrom the hole 5 outwardly toward the end of the rod, the

thread being cut to a depth of approximately one half the diameterofthe wire 4, to give the screw thus formed a diameter d (Fig.'

2) atthe root of the thread.

The wire 4, before being placed on the rod, is wound tightly around "a mandrel 7 or is otherwise manipulated, to form a portion of the wire into aheli'cal coil, having a diameter d (Fig. 3) which is substantially less than the diameter (Z. (This coil of wire is then sprung slightly out against its natural resiliency, to then be passed over the smooth end 8 of the rod 1, and screwed into the screw thread 6, the inner endof the wire being passed through hole 5 and securely held therein by means of a channel pin 8 (shownin detail in Fig. 4).which is driven into the hole as shown in the drawings to somewhat flatten and deformthe wire f and wedge it in place, TheendB of'the rod is then dipped into molten solder up to a point beyond the pin 8, whereby to. securely solder the wire 4 to the-rod 1 throughout theentire length of its contact therewith.

By the above vdescribed method of fastening the wire to. the rod, the natural resiliencyof the wire operates tocontr act the coils of wire closely against the rod, whereas, in the former methodof initially winding the wire aroundthe rod, this resiliency of the wire, causes the same to {spring away diflicult and uncertain. That is, l the present method,the springiness of the wire, Fig. 3 is a plan view diagrammatically" which was heretofore disadvantageous, is now distinctly advantageous,

,from the rod surface, and: made soldering;- 545 Fig. 2 is an elevation, at right angles to A further distinct advantage of the new method and product, resides in the time and so wound aroundthe rod to lie in the sai expense saved in the soldering operation, the dipping as described, being much (wicker than when it was necessary to hold t e wire coils against the rod and run solder 75 along the wire turns by hand.

I By this invention the desired end has been attained of iwi and chegnly a wire to a rod, 'w h a strong"meclianica and a good electrical, connection between the m The above'rathend tailecl-oi one embodiment of this invention'is given solely'b way of illustration, and knot in tended, m an manner whatsoeveqina limit- 15 ing sense. viously' the invention ca'nas-* u ny P ra a f e? a d-o w v f le o nume ou I41 -fi?% had an fi forms andflmqdifications are. mlifii d d' to b em raced b 'tln n emmn, s ame within th 9P n ed lams 5 my mm s I ne ""L'In combination, a ground rod, a hole in the rod, a wire pinned in the hole, a. heli- 9 Cal groove in the rod, the wire being wound around'the rodto lie. in the said groove.

2, In combination, a ground r'od, a hole in the rod, a wire pinned in thqhole, a heii'eal groove in the rod, the wire' bein groove, andsolder connecting the red wires, In combination, a ground having a s l o e ,the e i he i t a a a r 7 so: in the t-0d terminating 'at ne end t i t to y H ."sprunghelical qoil s qrtion received in Eoove to resiliently embrace e I e d wen l h 'diq t l' o froot 'g the eater 'L r wr g e-is es i r 'q fi T hel onto i s r w thi id. meters crossd aha-sea am tfiathredd aiefii agai miser e ,v th i 6.'Af,me od fcir naking a j rod" mama hole a wire, forming a screw thread on a portion of a and rod with the diameter of the root 0 the thread greater than the inner diameter of the helix, and threading the wire helix onto said screw thread by spri in the 0 en suficig ntl to repe ve t qg i he 1" i m 9 fastem one en to mm m the thehpte means 0 a channel pin, and then soda rb ofid are immune Guilt: m:- h 2:, 21a 7. In combination a ground rod having therein, a helical oove inthe rod terminating at one end a pcent' gm liglfa one said held 1n the Q1 1 s m a p a a? M fisq a, m ee refine a s? w" a out 1 P at. awe. an a a A a WWW? mg her -{EOII and .gaieentj t on-wereot my In 

